Of course, nothing can match the book itself, Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but you can't help liking those portrayals of Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop, and the rest. Note that the adult "Charlie" (Peter Ostrum) seems just as sweet as the child did. I got a kick out of seeing how each of those children turned out 40 years later.

And did you know that Roald Dahl went to school near a chocolate factory? Apparently the boys at his school were sometimes called upon to test the chocolates. No wonder he came up with such a great story!

ABOUT ME

I am madly in love with children's books and want to get great books into the hands of kids who will love them, too. Books are like magnifying glasses, intensifying the wonders of people and their imaginations and everything in the world from spiders to shoelaces. Books are a unique sort of conversation. I write them, too, mostly MG fantasy, but sometimes poetry and picture books. Thank you, Johanes Gutenberg!